Vilma Martinez has announced her plans to step down as president of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission after serving a full five-year term.
“I am very proud to have served our nation’s number one container port ... to assure that our port remains strongly competitive, grows sustainably and continues to be an engaged and supportive member of the community," she said.
While on the five-member board, Martinez oversaw several milestones, including development and approval of the 2017 Clean Air Action Plan update.
Martinez, a lawyer, also helped draft two port five-year strategic plans and create the port’s public access investment plan.
She was previously U.S. ambassador to Argentina from 2009 to 2013 and past president and general counsel of the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
Martinez stepped down to spend more time in part-time retirement and help organise the fund's 50th anniversary celebration, Port of Los Angeles spokesman Phillip Sanfield said.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has named Jaime Lee to the commission in light of Martinez's departure.
The commission will swear Lee in to the board and elect a new president at its 19 April meeting.
A native Angeleno, Lee has served as board president and commissioner on the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System Board of Administration for the past four years.
Previously, Lee was a commissioner on the city's Industrial Development Authority, Quality and Productivity Commission.
She has also sat on the State of California’s Speech Language Pathology, Audiology & Hearing Aid Dispensers Board.
